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Head Patent Law Division

Geneva

  • Organization: WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Senior level - P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Legal - International Law
    • Patent and Intellectual property
  • Closing Date: Closed

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE\:  please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local date and time.

 

1.         Organizational context

 

The post is located in the Patent Law Division, Patents and Technology Sector.  This Division is responsible for the implementation of WIPO’s strategic goal concerning the balanced evolution of the international normative framework for intellectual property in the area of Patents, Utility Models, Undisclosed Information, and Integrated Circuits, and for providing Legislative and Policy assistance to Member States in drafting and updating their national legislation in the aforementioned fields of IP. 

 

The incumbent directs, supervises and reviews the work of a team that provides legislative and policy assistance to Member States in the design and implementation of balanced legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks in those areas.

 

The main role of the incumbent is to independently conduct legal research and analyses on various legal issues related to patents, utility models, trade secrets and layout designs of integrated circuits, and provide authoritative advice to management and the established bodies of the Organization, as well as Secretariat, legislative and policy assistance to Member States.  The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director, Patent Law Division.

 

2.         Duties and responsibilities

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

a)    advises on, and contributes upon request to, the implementation of the Organization’s program in ensuring that the intellectual property normative framework of each member country takes into account the needs and interests of those countries, as well as their compatibility with the multilateral international legal framework;

 

b)    coordinates and undertakes research, and analyzes the needs of countries, or groups of countries, on patents, utility models, trade secrets and integrated circuits; 

 

c)    proposes, designs, plans and monitors projects and programs on policy implementation matters, including related legal assistance; 

 

d)    resolves legal questions and prepares comments on legal texts, drafts bills or other documents submitted by interested countries to the Secretariat on patents, utility models, trade secrets and integrated circuits; 

 

e)    provides legal opinion and prepares legal texts, drafts bills or other documents requested by interested countries to the Secretariat on patents, utility models, trade secrets and integrated circuits; 

 

f)     initiates, develops and maintains contacts with authorities of countries or groups of countries in all regions as well as with the United Nations agencies and other partner institutions; 

 

g)    prepares agreements, studies and working documents related to the above-mentioned activities of the Organization, in particular to patent policy and related policy matters; 

 

h)    plans, organizes and leads seminars, specialized meetings and training courses (including preparation of teaching documents and delivery of lectures) on patents, utility models, trade secrets and integrated circuits; 

 

i)      serves as secretary of or participates in meetings sponsored or co-sponsored by the Organization. Prepares notes and statements on matters under consideration, formulates and revises legal texts and proposals, and analyzes and clarifies legal issues involved; 

 

j)      represents the Organization in conferences and meetings with other organizations or institutions, as appropriate; 

 

k)    fosters and maintains cordial and cooperative contacts, at different levels, with the public and private sectors of the countries;  and

 

l)      prepares work plans, reports, and other administrative documents.

 


 

3.         Requirements

 

Education

Essential

First-level and advanced university degrees in law.

 

A first-level university degree in law plus two years of relevant experience, in addition to the experience requested below, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

 

Desirable

Advanced university degree, or equivalent qualification, in industrial pproperty.

 

Experience

Essential

At least twelve years of experience in legal matters on patents, the management of patent offices, private practice, or in the negotiation of bilateral or multilateral agreements in these fields.

 

Desirable

Experience in the patent legal systems of developing countries.

 

Experience in drafting laws, acts or regulations, or in the elaboration and legal revisions of commercial contracts in intellectual property.

 

Languages

Essential

Excellent knowledge of English.

 

Desirable

Very good knowledge of any other United Nations official language.

 

Job-related competencies

                 Essential

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the internet.

 

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

 

Desirable

Ability to work in a multicultural and multilingual environment and to cope well with multitasked responsibilities.

 

  

4.         Organizational competencies

 

1. Communicating effectively.

2. Respecting individual and cultural differences.

3. Showing team spirit.

4. Managing yourself.

5. Producing results.

6. Embracing change.

7. Respecting ethics and values.

 

WIPO Managerial Competencies

 

1. Creating a stimulating work environment.

2. Planning and managing resources.

3. Promoting change, innovation and learning.

4. Building and promoting partnerships.

5. Leading WIPO to the future.

 

 

5.         Information

 

Mobility\:  Candidates appointed to an international position with WIPO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

 

Annual salary\:

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment.  The post adjustment (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change without notice in accordance with the rates as set within the UN Common System for salaries and allowances.  The figures quoted below are based on the March 2017 rate of 79.5%

 

 

P5

 

 

Annual salary

      $84,721

 

Post adjustment

      $67,353

 

Total Salary

      $152,074

 

Currency USD

 

 

         

 

 

Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

 

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

 

Additional Information

 

Initial period of two years, renewable, subject to satisfactory performance.  No fixed-term appointment or any extension hereof shall carry with it any expectancy of, nor imply any right to, (further) extensions or conversion to a permanent appointment.

 

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.5.

 

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

 

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

 

___________________________________________________________________

 

By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

 

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of an identification and of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link\: http\://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually.

 

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening.  Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

 

Additional background checks may be required.

 

This vacancy is now closed.
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